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Cooking with the RIGHT Oils

In this edition of our newsletter, Dr. Koo, ND speaks on the topic of oils. The second page has a comparisons of smoking points of different oils. Put this handy reference on your refrigerator for the next time you cook a meal.

Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter here or you can also find it in the News & Resources section of our website.

Yours in health,

Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"

Counterfeit toothbrushes?

Here's a new one I have not heard of: Health Canada has issued an advisory warning on counterfeit toothbrushes. What will people counterfeit next? The fake toothbrushes have been spotted as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360.

Reports have been filed with Health Canada of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching a consumer's throat.

Authentic Oral B toothbrushes, made by Proctor and Gamble Inc. have the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the hand mould. Fake Oral B brushes have been known to have the logo printed in silver text on a peel-away label.

Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging, labelled in English and French only, that states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc," and by a lot code moulded into the brush handle just under the brush head.

Problems can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate 1-800-267-9675. Consumers requiring more information can contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

Yours in health,

Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"

Why are some people colder than others?

Do you know someone that's always cold? A co-worker that's usually bundled up or a family member that's always turning up the thermostat.

And my guess is that it's likely someone of the fairer sex. Why is it that women tend to feel this way?

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let me just say that a lot of factors can affect why one person feels colder than another. Diet, age, fitness level, stress level and the quantity and quality of our sleep all affect this to some degree. The human body has a core temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius and this stays fairly constant. It is our extremities (the hands and feet) that has a more pronounced effect on how cold we feel. When the temperature dips, the body will draw blood back to the vital organs leaving the hands and feet more vulnerable to the cold.

Now why do women feel the change in temperature more so than men? There are several factors, but hormones play a major role. Women's temperatures vary with their menstrual cycle. You will be familiar with this if you've ever tracked your basal body temperature (BBT) for fertility or contraception reasons. Temperatures rise sharply just before ovulation and will remain high for the post-ovulatory phase of your period til your menses. As a side note, birth control pills can elevate one's core body temperature, so I would hypothesize that women coming off the pill will experience a temporary cold state.

More specific reason why someone might feel cold:
  • Iron Deficiency: Women and vegetarians are also more susceptible to this
  • Poor circulation as this decreases blood flow to the extremities. Smokers need to wary of this. Get up and get active as physically active individuals have increased ciruclation.
  • Hypothyroid: An underactive thyroid will lead to lower body temperatures.
  • Your typical environment dictates your perception of how cold or hot a new environment it. For example, if your home thermostat is set a balmy 25 degrees celcius, you will tend to feel colder at work where the thermostat is usually 21 degrees.
  • Chronic stress and poor sleep make us more sensitive to changes in temperature.

Yours in health,

Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"